Gu Beichen, regaining his senses, stood up with the help of a servant, clutching his aching shoulder. His expression clearly indicated that Ling Mohan had put his full strength into that blow.
"Father, why... why are you here?"
"Look at you, you can't even stand properly, do you need others to support you?"
Upon receiving the Zhennan King's glare, the servant was so startled that he quickly withdrew his hand from Gu Beichen.
Without support, Gu Beichen slipped and almost fell to the ground. He hastily grabbed the corner of a nearby table to prevent himself from falling. Anger surged within him, and he shouted at the servant behind him, "Useless fool, who told you to let go? Are you trying to kill me!"
"I told him to let go. So, am I, your father, also a useless fool now!"
The Zhennan King slammed the table and loudly questioned. Gu Beichen immediately covered his mouth, not daring to say another word.
"Look at yourself. You're already a married man with a career, yet there's nothing respectable about you. You loaf around all day with nothing to do. Our Gu family is full of loyal martyrs. Is it really going to be ruined in the hands of you, my rebellious son? Raising a son like you, I am truly ashamed of the ancestors of the Gu family!"
"If I had known you would be like this, I shouldn't have given birth to you, my rebellious son. I should have let you... let you..."
The Zhennan King pointed at Gu Beichen's nose and berated him. This son was born on the battlefield. At a critical juncture of the war, to protect Gu Beichen, he sacrificed his most capable deputy.
The battle, which had stalemated for a year, was at its last gasp. It was at the time of Gu Beichen's birth that he fought a desperate battle, breaking through with a dangerous tactic out of necessity. Only then did he win that battle, bringing over a hundred years of peace to the border for Dong Chu.
It was precisely because of this that he had always placed high hopes on Gu Beichen and meticulously cultivated him, expecting him to achieve great things. He never imagined that he would turn out this way.
Gu Beichen, with his nose being pointed at and cursed, didn't dare to say a word. He could only lower his head silently and listen to the reprimand. Based on past experience, if he let his father vent his anger, he would stop scolding once he got tired. If he insisted on arguing with his father, his father would just continue to scold endlessly.
"Sigh..." The Zhennan King sighed helplessly. He had beaten and scolded him over the years, but it had no effect.
Seeing that his father had stopped scolding, Gu Beichen let out a silent sigh of relief. It seemed his father didn't want to continue.
"I haven't asked you yet, where were you last night?"
This sentence was like a bomb dropped in his hand. Gu Beichen's mind instantly cleared. His gaze immediately fell on Ling Mohan, and he instantly realized what had happened. He was truly something, capable of doing such a thing.
He had truly underestimated Ling Mohan's cunning. This time, he would remember it thoroughly.
"Last night... last night, I didn't..."
'Bang!' The sound startled Gu Beichen.
The Zhennan King slammed his hand on the table: "Are you still trying to quibble? Were you at the pleasure houses again last night!"
Seeing that Gu Beichen remained silent, the Zhennan King already had his answer. He stepped forward and grabbed Gu Beichen's ear: "You unfilial wretch! How many times have I warned you not to go to that place to carouse? Have you taken it all as empty talk? If I don't teach you a good lesson today, I'm afraid you'll be riding on my head tomorrow!"
"Father, I was wrong... I was wrong!"
"Guards, bring the family law!"
At the Zhennan King's command, a servant walked in with a three-inch thick rattan cane and handed it to the Zhennan King.
"Today, I will surely give you a good beating to see if you can learn your lesson!"
As the words fell, the Zhennan King raised his hand and brought the rattan down. One strike of the rattan directly tore Gu Beichen's skin.
After more than ten strikes, the Zhennan King's anger had subsided considerably. He threw the rattan aside: "These few strikes are to make you remember. You are about to get married, and your conduct must not be so absurd. If there is a next time, it will not be just a few strokes of the rattan!"
"Yes, Father. Your son knows his mistake..."
Gu Beichen endured the pain, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, and his lips were pale and bloodless.
"Find a doctor to examine him." The Zhennan King dropped the words and strode away.
"Blind fool, why aren't you helping me up?" Gu Beichen angrily scolded the servant beside him. Didn't he see his father had left and was still dawdling? None of them knew to help him up.
The servant, after being scolded, finally reacted and hurriedly helped Gu Beichen, who was kneeling on the ground.
"Hiss... This prince is in pain. Aren't you blind..."
After those few rattan strokes, his back must be torn and bloody. He had to admit that his father had been truly ruthless this time. If he hadn't been in good health and able to endure, he would have collapsed long ago.
Ling Mohan walked up to Gu Beichen with a smug smile, his eyes filled with mockery. He clicked his tongue twice and said, "Young Master Gu still has the strength to curse? It seems you were not beaten hard enough."
"You are ruthless. I admit defeat... I admit defeat!"
He was now completely impressed with Ling Mohan, bowing down to him. Such ruthless tactics, it was probably only Ling Mohan who could think of them. Truly insidious.
Gu Beichen lay weakly on the bed, his gaze falling on Ling Mohan: "You have avenged yourself now, and you have finally succeeded."
Next time, he would definitely not do such a foolish thing again. It was truly self-inflicted, causing a thousand damages to himself and eight hundred to himself.
"As long as Young Master Gu can keep his mouth shut properly next time, I will not make things difficult for you like this. Speaking of which, it is Young Master Gu's own fault."
He had caused him trouble with Feng Jin, so how could he let Gu Beichen have an easy time?
After taking this beating, he would also learn his lesson and behave for a few days. For a period of time, without Gu Beichen around, he would have some peace.
"You old fox, you're ruthless. This prince has completely remembered it now!"
Gu Beichen was thoroughly convinced, only regretting why he had impulsively tried to scheme against them yesterday. Indeed, none of them were to be trifled with.
"It's good that you remember. I won't disturb Young Master Gu's rest. I'll take my leave."
Ling Mohan walked to Gu Beichen's side, glanced at his injuries. His skin was torn, and flesh was bloody. The beating was truly severe. Before leaving, he did not forget to press down hard on Gu Beichen's wound.